Jennings Randolph student raising money for charity

October 11, 2012

A local elementary school student is helping others as she sells pink lemonade to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Jillian Barnett and her grandmother sold pink lemonade from a pink cart during the Mountain State Forest Festival Grand Feature Parade last weekend, and she will be selling lemonade from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Citizens Bank of West Virginia.

Barnett, a fourth-grade student at Jennings Randolph Elementary School, said she got the idea from her grandmother, Beverly Johnson, owner of Johnson Realty.

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J. Barnett

"Meme came up with the idea to set up a pink lemonade stand," Barnett said. "I thought it was a great idea."

Barnett said they used as much pink as they could because pink represents breast cancer awareness. The stand is decorated with pink details, and the pink lemonade will be served in pink glasses.

Barnett said she wanted to find a way to raise money to help those facing cancer.

"I feel sad that women have to go through that," Barnett said. "Even my Meme went through breast cancer. I want to help."

Mother Kim Barnett said she is very proud of her daughter.

"She wants to raise money for research for breast cancer," said Kim Barnett. "October is breast cancer awareness month, and I am so happy Jillian is helping raise money and awareness of this disease."

Kim Barnett said Jillian made the signs to advertise the pink lemonade sale and she also made posters and fliers to be distributed at different businesses.

"We hope this sale will grow," said Kim Barnett. "Jillian and her Meme had signs and rode through the MSFF Grand Feature Parade, and she sold pink lemonade during the parade. Next year, we hope to have golf carts to drive through the parade route to sell pink lemonade and raise more money."

"I just want to give back to the cause," Jillian Barnett said. "Before the parade, I had already raised $55 from people who could not attend the events."

Jillian Barnett said she hopes people will stop by Citizens Bank Friday to enjoy some pink lemonade and help support breast cancer awareness.